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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1ghozh7ml
Israel Seeks to Reduce Threat from F-35 Sale to Turkey
(Ynet News) Itamar Eichner - Israel is urging the U.S. to block a possible F-35 sale to Turkey, or at least provide Ankara with downgraded versions of the advanced stealth fighter if the deal goes ahead, Israeli officials said. Israel's Security Cabinet was briefed Tuesday on the emerging F-35 deal between Washington and Ankara. Israel assesses that the sale can still be prevented. Israel has told Washington that funds for Hamas and Hizbullah pass through Turkey and that President Trump could condition any assistance to Turkey on shutting down bank accounts and other financial channels. "Our air superiority will be preserved in any case, but of course we want it preserved even more strongly," a senior Israeli official said. "There are many versions of this aircraft, and we are trying to influence this as much as possible." Israel is expected to work with Congress in an attempt to block the F-35 deal, relying on U.S. laws requiring Washington to preserve Israel's qualitative military edge. Those laws require consultations with Israel and possible compensation, such as upgraded versions of aircraft, if a regional arms sale could affect Israel's military advantage. An Israeli security official said Tuesday that F-35s in Turkey's hands are not expected to harm the IDF's freedom of action, "but they will challenge us. For now, we are focused on preventing it. It is not clear that this is possible, but we are not giving up."